Table Of ContentLuthulenchelys heemstraorum, a new genus and species of snake eel
(Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from KwaZulu-Natal, with comments on
Ophichthus rutidoderma (Bleeker, 1853) and its synonyms
John E. McCosker
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California 94118, USA
e-mail: [email protected]
(Received 17 September 2006; accepted 2 January 2007)
Abstract. Luthulenchelys heemstraorum genus and species novum, subfamily Ophichthinae, tribe
Ophichthini, is described from a 472 mm eel trawled off Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in 450-460
m. Luthulenchelys differs from all known ophichthids in having the following suite of characters: an extremely
elongate body, long tail, dorsal-fin origin in anterior trunk region, an elongate pectoral fin, posterior eye/jaw
location, blunt snout, posterior nostril within upper lip, slender dentition, a single vomerine tooth, uniquely
developed lateral-line ossicles, and five gill arches, with a very reduced fifth ceratobranchial. Several changes
in taxonomy are proposed: Ophisurus lumbricoides Bleeker 1853, Ophisurus rutidodermatoides Bleeker 1853, and
Ophichthus derbyensis Whitley 1941 are junior synonyms of Ophichthus rutidoderma (Bleeker 1853);
Sphagebranchus lumbricoides Bleeker 1864 is a species of Yirrkala.
Key Words: Ophichthidae, Luthulenchelys heemstraorum gen. & sp. nov., KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Ophichthus
rutidoderma, Ophichthus rutidodermatoides, Ophichthus derbyensis, Yirrkala lumbricoides
INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS
The snake eel fauna of the Western Indian Ocean is The single specimen is deposited at the South African
rich, diverse and poorly known. J.L.B. Smith (1962) Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB),
included 55 species in his monograph of the Western Grahamstown.
Indian Ocean and Red Sea ophicthids. McCosker and Specimen measurements are straight-line, made
Castle's (1986) account of the southern African species either with a 300 mm ruler with 0.5 mm gradations (for
(from northern Namibia to Mozambique) treated 29 total length, trunk length, and tail length) and
species and made several changes in taxonomy. In a recorded to the nearest 0.5 mm, or with dial calipers
forthcoming volume on coastal fishes of the Western (all other measurements) and recorded to the nearest
Indian Ocean and Red Sea (Phillip Heemstra and Jack 0.1 mm. Body length comprises head and trunk
Randall, editors), I will report at least 70 species and 30 lengths. Head length is measured from the snout tip to
genera of ophichthids, including numerous changes in the postero-dorsal margin of the gill opening; trunk
taxonomic status. In preparation for that work I have length is taken from the gill opening to mid-anus;
examined many of the recently collected specimens maximum body depth does not include the median
from South Africa and beyond that are deposited in fins. Head-pore terminology follows McCosker et al.
the collections of the South African Institute for (1989: 257), in which supraorbital pores include the
Aquatic Biology, the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, the ethmoidal pore + pores in supraorbital canal, i.e. 1+3,
United States National Museum of Natural History, and the infraorbital pores include pores along the
the California Academy of Sciences, the British upper jaw + those in the vertical canal behind the eye
Museum of Natural History, and other institutions, ("postorbital pores"), i.e. 4 + 2, as the last pore
and have discovered at least six species of ophichthids included along the upper jaw is frequently part of the
that appear to be undescribed, as well as a number of postorbital series. Gill arch and lateral-line ossicle
eels whose taxonomic history is as twisted as the state examination was accomplished after removal and
of their holotypes. Undoubtedly additional ophicthid clearing and counterstaining with alcian blue and
species from this area remain to be discovered. The alizarin red dyes (Dingerkus & Uhler 1977). Vertebral
majority of the known undescribed species await counts (which include the hypural) were taken from
description or explanation in a variety of generic radiographs. Radiographic techniques are described
revisions that are underway. One new species, in (Bohlke 1989). The mean vertebral formula (MVF) is
however, is so distinct that it deserves a new genus as expressed as the average of predorsal, preanal, and
well, and in preparation for the publication of the total vertebrae (Bohlke, 1982). Institutional abbre¬
Western Indian Ocean volume, I herein describe it and viations follow (Leviton et al., 1985).
take pleasure in naming it after Phil and Elaine
Heemstra in recognition of their prodigious efforts in
this and previous regional works.
Smithiana Bulletin 7: 3-7
4 John E. McCosker
Luthulenchelys een. nov.
Figs. 1-4
Type species: Luthulenchelys heemstraorum sp. nov.
Diagnosis. An elongate ophichthid, subfamily
Ophichthinae, tribe Ophichthini (sensu McCosker
1977), with tail much longer than head and trunk;
median fins low; dorsal fin arising well behind
pectoral fin; pectoral fin base arising above and
occupying more than half of gill opening; gill openings
lateral, elongate, nearly vertical and crescentic; eye
moderately developed, its centre above posterior
quarter of upper jaw, its posterior margin slightly in
advance of rictus; jaws moderately developed, but not
elongate; snout conical, tapering evenly, its tip
rounded; underside of snout with a median sulcus
exposing the teeth in advance of anterior nostril bases;
anterior nostrils within short tubes; posterior nostrils a
hole within upper lip, covered by a flap; teeth conical,
erect, numerous and small, uniserial on mandible and
biserial on maxillary, a single vomerine tooth; 2
preopercular pores; gill arches similar to those of
Ophichthus (cf. Nelson 1966; McCosker 1977), however,
fifth ceratobranchial is a thin, nearly ossified rod for
anterior 80%, the remainder cartilaginous; upper
pharyngeal tooth plates fused. Other characters those
of the single species.
Etymology. Named Luthulenchelys in honour of Chief
Albert John Mvumbi Luthuli of KwaZulu-Natal,
Africa's first winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and
former President of the African National Congress;
and enchelys, an ancient Greek word for eel, feminine.
Remarks. In general appearance, the type species of
Luthulenchelys appears similar to some of the very
elongate species of Ophichthus, such as O. rutidoderma
and O. microcephalus. Luthulenchelys heemstraorum
differs from them in the condition of its upper lip and
associated posterior nostril, its large posterior eye
(ending nearly above rictus, rather than in advance of
it), its reduced vomerine dentition, its fifth
ceratobranchial reduced to a minor cartilaginous rod
(rather than an ossified structure), and in the condition
of its lateral-line ossicles.
Adaptations displayed by the new species such as
the nearly uniform dark coloration, small and
numerous teeth, fairly large eye, tumid snout
(associated with burrowing in soft mud, rather than
the sharp-pointed snouts and tails of shallow-water
ophichthids that are adaptations for burrowing into
sand), moderately developed cephalic pores, and
poorly developed median fins are shared by other
deep-dwelling ophichthids (cf. McCosker et al. 1989;
McCosker 1999). Those similarities and adaptations
are so apparent that upon first glance the new species
appears very similar to several deep-dwelling Atlantic
myrophine ophichthids (McCosker, 1989), such as
Asarcenchelys longimanus McCosker 1985, Mixomyrophis
pusillipinna McCosker 1985 and Pseudomyrophis nimius
Bohlke 1960, whose ancestry is very different to that of Fig. 1. Holotype of Luthulenchelys heemstraorum sp. nov.,
the new species. SAIAB 75732, 472 mm TL.
Smithiana Bulletin 7: 3-7
New snake eel from South Africa 5
Luthulenchelys heemstraorum sp. nov. pores 1+4, infraorbital pores 4 + 2, lower jaw pores 5,
preopercular pores 2, supratemporal pores 3. Lateral¬
Holotype: SAIAB 75732, 472 mm TL, sex undetermined line pores apparent only in anterior trunk region; 9
(gonads not apparent), from KwaZulu-Natal, South before gill opening in a high-arching sequence, the
Africa, off Durban (29°57'14"S, 31°16'23"E), 450-460 remainder difficult to discern due to condition of
m, collected by Grant van der Westhuizen aboard specimen. Lateral-line canal unique in appearance
F/V Ocean Spray using an otter trawl, field no. ORI (Fig. 3) among the Ophichthini, exhibiting horizontal
180-3/5, on 16 November 2004. tubes indented at each end; pores in tail region appear
as prominent sharp spikes as seen from above (these
Diagnosis. An elongate species of ophichthine with: are lateral processes of the vertebrae as evidenced by
tail 62%, head 7.2%, and body depth at gill opening radiography, perhaps exaggerated by the desiccated
1.3% of total length; dorsal-fin origin nearly 2 head condition of the specimen), reaching nearly to tail tip.
lengths behind pectoral-fin tips; pectoral fin elongate;
posterior nostril a hole within upper lip, covered by a
flap that extends below edge of lip; no barbels on
upper lip and a no slit at posterior nostril; pores small
but conspicuous, SO 1 + 4, IO 4 + 2, POM 5 + 2; teeth
small and conical, biserial on upper jaw, uniserial on
Fig. 2. Head of holotype of Luthulenchelys heemstraorum
lower jaw, a single vomerine tooth; coloration uniform
sp. nov., SAIAB 75732, 472 mm TL.
grey-black; vertebral formula 20/61/165.
Counts and measurements of the holotype (in mm). Total
length 472; head 34.0; trunk 144; tail 294; predorsal .
A/
distance 64; pectoral-fin length 8.25; pectoral base 2.4;
body depth ~6 at gill openings; body width ~6 at gill
openings; body depth ~5 at anus; body width -5 at
Fig. 3. Left lateral-line pores 21-23 of holotype of
anus; snout 7.5; tip of snout to rictus 11.2; snout Luthulenchelys heemstraorum sp. nov., Scale indicates
overhang 3.5; eye diameter 3.0; interorbital width 3.5; 1 mm.
gill opening height 3.1; isthmus width 2.6.
Teeth (Fig. 4) small, conical, slightly recurved;
Description. Body very elongate, trunk subcircular, biserial in upper jaw and uniserial on mandible. An
tail laterally compressed; body depth at gill openings intermaxillary rosette of 4, followed by a gap, then a
79 in TL. Branchial basket moderately expanded; 17 diamond of 4, followed by a single vomerine teeth.
pairs of overlapping branchiostegal rays visible by Maxillary tooth rows linear, separated by a narrow
radiograph. Head 4.2 in trunk. Head and trunk 2.7 and gap; inner row of -16-17 larger teeth, flanked medially
head 14 in TL. Snout rounded, moderately acute when by -22-24 smaller teeth in outer row. Lower-jaw teeth
viewed from above; a short groove bisecting underside uniserial, -28-30 descending in size to become very
of snout nearly to tip of upper jaw. A pair of small small posteriorly.
bumps on snout flanking dorsal midline in advance of
anterior nostril base (their appearance possibly
exaggerated by condition of specimen). Lower jaw
included, its tip reaching well beyond base of anterior-
nostril tubes. Upper jaw not elongated, rictus
immediately behind a vertical line at posterior margin
of eye. Eye fairly large, 3.7 in upper jaw and 11.3 in
head. Anterior nostrils tubular, extending ventro-
laterally from snout at -45° from horizontal, reaching
below upper lip and beyond tip of chin. Posterior
Fig. 4. Dentition of holotype of Luthulenchelys
nostrils an elongate opening within upper lip, not heemstraorum sp. nov., SAIAB 75732, 472 mm TL.
visible externally, covered by a flap (expanded edge of
lip) that extends below edge of mouth and lacks a Gill arches removed, cleared and counterstained.
vertical slit. No barbels along upper lip. Dorsal-fin Gill arches developed, similar to those of Ophichthus
origin well behind pectoral fin about a head length into (cf. McCosker 1977: 32) except for fifth ceratobranchial
trunk length. Median fins low but obvious, ending a condition; first basibranchial ossified, all others
little more than eye diameter before bluntly pointed cartilaginous; hypobranchials 1-2 ossified, 3-4
and laterally compressed tail tip. Pectoral fins cartilaginous; epibranchials 1-4 ossified; infra-
elongate. pharyngobranchials 2-3 ossified; fifth ceratobranchial
Head pores small but apparent (Fig. 2). Single very reduced, a thin nearly ossified rod for anterior
median interorbital and temporal pores. Supraorbital 80%, the remainder cartilaginous; upper pharyngeal
Smithiana Bulletin 7: 3-7
6 John E. McCosker
tooth plates fused, containing 2-4 rows of conical dentition, but the snout is shorter and sharper, its eye
recurved teeth; lower pharyngeal tooth plates contain is smaller and located more anteriorly than that of
2-3 rows of 6-14 conical recurved teeth. L. heemstraorum, its lateral-line ossicles are more
Colour in ethanol: uniform grey-black; throat, snout typical of the Ophichthus condition (McCosker 1977),
and chin slightly darker; median and pectoral fins and it has more total vertebrae (195-199 vs. 165).
pale; anterior nostrils, inside of mouth, anal region and While examining the type (BMNH 1867.11.28:226,
peritoneum pale. A photograph of the dead specimen 94.5 cm TL) of Ophisurus rutidoderma Bleeker (1853: 30)
taken soon after its capture indicates that in life it was at the British Museum, I attempted to decipher its
uniform dark brown. identity and that of related Bleeker types. I ultimately
concluded that Ophisurus rutidodermatoides Bleeker
Etymology. Named in honour of Phil and Elaine (1853: 31) [treated by Kaup 1856: 18, as Pisoodonophis
Heemstra in recognition of their efforts to understand, rutidermatoides (sic.), later emended to Ophichthys
illustrate, and explain the fishes of the Indian Ocean to rhytidodermatoides by Gunther 1870: 62] and Ophisurus
scientists and the general public. lumbricoides Bleeker (1853: 32) are junior synonyms of
O. rutidoderma. The types of O. rutidodermatoides
Distribution. Known only from the type specimen, (BMNH 1867.11.28:292, 61 cm TL) and O. lumbricoides
collected off Durban in 450-460 m depth. (BMNH 1867.11.28:300, 41.5 cm TL) are in poor
condition, however, that of O. rutidoderma is in fair
Remarks and Comparisons. The characteristics of the condition. Eschmeyer (1998: 1491) cited O. rutidoderma
new species are those of the monotypic genus. The and O. rutidodermatoides as valid species whose unique
new species is easily separable from any known holotypes were "whereabouts unknown." My
ophichthid on the basis of its eye size and location, its examination of those Bleeker specimens in the British
extremely reduced vomerine dentition, its body Museum demonstrated that the length and locality
elongation, and other characters unique to the genus. data were appropriate, and I therefore identify those
Comparisons with species of Ophichthus that are specimens, with confidence, as the holotypes.
similar in appearance are described in the following Eschmeyer (1998: 951) listed O. lumbricoides as a valid
section. species of Yirrkala, and also suggested that the
whereabouts of the unique holotype was unknown. It
COMMENTS ON OPHICHTHUS RUTIDODERMA is in fact the British Museum specimen, as evidenced
by the length of the specimen and additional records
During my initial attempts to identify the specimen
in the collection; Eschmeyer's assumption of its
herein described as Luthulenchelys heemstraorum, I
validity was based upon McCosker and Castle's (1986:
examined the extremely elongate species of
185) mistaken referral of Ophisurus lumbricoides Bleeker
Ophichthus, O. microcephalus and O. rutidoderma.
1853, rather than Sphagebranchus lumbricoides Bleeker
Ophichthys microcephalus Day 1878 was described from
1864, to Yirrkala in their treatment. I have also
Malabar, India, and is currently known only from
examined the holotype (AM.1.840, 258 mm TL) of
Day's description and an extant 625 mm TL syntype in
Ophichthus derbyensis Whitley 1941 described from a
the Australian Museum (B.7843). (Ophichthus
specimen from Derby, Western Australia, and found it
microcephalus may ultimately deserve relocation to
to be a synonym of Ophichthus rutidoderma. It has the
another genus, however, the extant syntype is
same proportions, meristics, and dental condition as
somewhat desiccated and its head is damaged, which
that of Bleeker's type specimens. The vertebral
would disallow an adequate generic decision.) I
formulae of the four holotypes are as follows:
compared that syntype to the holotype of
O. derbyensis 14/61/195; O. lumbricoides 16/64/199;
Luthulenchelys heemstraorum and found them to differ
O. rutidoderma 16/61/197; and O. rutidodermatoides
in numerous characters: the teeth of O. microcephalus
7/63/197.
are more numerous, more closely-set, and stouter than
In summary, the twisted tale of these elongate
those of L. heemstraorum-, the snout is shorter and
ophichthids is as follows: Ophisurus lumbricoides
sharper, the body less elongate, the eye is
Bleeker 1853, Ophisurus rutidodermatoides Bleeker 1853,
comparatively smaller and located more anteriorly,
and Ophichthus derbyensis Whitley 1941 are herein
and O. microcephalus has more vertebrae than L.
considered to be junior synonyms of Ophichthus
heemstraorum 12/69/209 vs. 20/61/165); and its
rutidoderma (Bleeker 1853), and Sphagebranchus
lateral-line ossicles are more typical of the Ophichthus
lumbricoides Bleeker 1864 is a valid species of Yirrkala.
condition (McCosker 1977) than are those of L.
heemstraorum.
I also compared the shallow-water Indonesian ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
species Ophichthus rutidoderma (Bleeker 1853) (treated
by Kaup 1856: 18, as Pisoodonophis rutidoderma, later My list of acknowledgments could easily exceed the
emended to Ophichthys rhytidoderma by Gunther 1870: length of the elongate holotype of the new species. I
63) to Luthulenchelys heemstraorum. It has a similar sincerely thank the following for their assistance:
Grant van der Westhuizen and Sean Fennessy of the
dorsal-fin origin (above the 16th vertebra) and biserial
Smithiana Bulletin 7: 3-7
New snake eel from South Africa 7
South African Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) Dingerkus, G. & L.D. Uhler. 1977. Enzyme clearing of alcian
for collecting and photographing the type specimen; blue stained whole small vertebrates for demonstration
Beth Herd Guy for preparing the illustrations; Mysi of cartilage. Stain Technology 52: 229-232.
Hoang (CAS) for clearing and staining the gill arches Eschmeyer, W. N., ed. 1998. Catalog of Fishes. California
Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. 3 vols., 2905 pp.
and skin segment; William N. Eschmeyer (CAS) for
Gunther, A. 1870. Catalogue of the Physostomi, containing
advice concerning nomenclature; the research and
the families Gymnotidae ... Leptocardii, in the British
curatorial staff members of the Australian Museum
Museum. Catalogue of the fishes in the British Museum. Vol.
(AMS), the British Museum of Natural History
8. British Museum, London. 549 pp.
(BMNH), the Bernice P. Bishop Museum (BPBM), the Kaup, J. 1856. Catalogue of apodal fish in the collection of the
California Academy of Sciences (CAS), the South British Museum. London. 160 pp.
African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), the Leviton, A.E., R.H. Gibbs, JR., E. Heal & C.E. Dawson. 1985.
United States National Museum of Natural History Standards in herpetology and ichthyology: part I.
(USNM), and the Universiteit van Amsterdam Standard symbolic codes for institutional resources
Zoologisch Museum (ZMA) for their assistance with collections in herpetology and ichthyology. Copeia 1985:
specimens; Phil Heemstra and the late Margaret Mary 802-832.
McCosker, J.E. 1977. The osteology, classification, and
Smith for their advice and assistance during my visits
relationships of the eel family Ophichthidae. Proceedings
to SAIAB; Tomio Iwamoto (CAS) for reading a draft of
of the California Academy of Sciences ser. 4, 41(1): 1-123.
this manuscript; and Don Linker and the Jewish
— 1985. Two new genera and two new species of deepwater
Community Endowment Fund for their financial
western Atlantic worm eels (Pisces: Ophichthidae).
support of the artist. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 44(2): 9-15.
— 1999. Pisces Anguilliformes: Deepwater snake eels
LITERATURE CITED (Ophichthidae) from the New Caledonia region.
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